Tropical Storm Karen forms in Atlantic

A tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Karen early Tuesday in the open Atlantic Ocean, where it posed no immediate threat to land, and a new tropical depression formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

At 5 p.m. EDT, Karen was centered about 1,430 miles east of the Windward Islands, with top sustained winds near 40 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

It was moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph and was expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours. Tropical storm-force wind extended outward up to 45 miles from Karen's center.

On its current course, Karen was expected to hit two low-pressure areas and meteorologists were unsure how they would affect the storm.

The 13th depression of the season formed late Tuesday, and could become Tropical Storm Lorenzo on Wednesday, forecasters said. A tropical storm watch may be required for a portion of the Gulf Coast of Mexico by Wednesday morning. At 5:15 p.m. the storm was located about 190 miles east of Tampico, Mexico and moving toward the southwest near 3 mph with top sustained winds near 30 mph.

It was not expected to move much over the 24 hours.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Jerry broke up over cooler water in the Atlantic late Monday. Meteorologists expected the remnants of the storm, which formed Sunday, to be absorbed by a larger non-tropical low pressure system.

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